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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JOSEPH DUTTON, OF BERMONDSEY, (JOUNTY OF SURREY, ENGLAND.

DRIVING MECHANISM l -'OR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part 'of Letters Patent No 247,809, dated October4, 1881.

Application filed April 30, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that i, JosEPH UUTTON, of Bernondsey, in the county ofSurrey, England, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles,Tricycles, and like vehicles, which improved driving mechanism is alsoapplicable to other purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has forits object'to supersede and dispense with allnecessity for a crankmotor in any vehicle or machine to which it maybeapplied, and such improved driving mechanism is applicable generally toany machine or Vehicle actnated by crank-notion, th us both simplifyin gthe construction thereof and imparting ahigh rate of velocity theretowith a minimum amount of exertiou on the part of the operator.

In the following description and drawings I haveillnstrated theapplication of my improved driving'mechanism to bicycles. Such improveddriving mechanism consists of aspur-wheel mounted on the axis of themain wheel or wheels of the Vehicle, and a second spur-wheel The axis ofthe second spur-wheel is carried by an arm, so contrived that this axiscan be clamped in 'different positions, either higher or lower, as maybe required, but always with the two spur-wheels in gear. In the case ofa bicycle this arm is attached to the fo'k carrying the bearings for theaxis of the main wheel, and such arm is formed as a segment ofta circle,of which, when the arm is in place, the axis of the main wheel is thecenter. Fast with the second spunwheel is a ratchet-wheel, and a pawlengages with the ratchet-teeth. The pawl is carried by a lever mountedon the axis of the second spur-wheel, so as to be able to turn freelythereon. This lever is formed at its rear end 'as a treadle, whereon thefoot of therider is placed. Similar gear tothe above is provided on eachside of the main wheel, thus providingatreadlefor each foot. Thetreadles are connected'by a cord passin g up over a pulley, so that asone treadle is depressed the other is elevated, and as either treadle isdepressed the pawl upon the treadle-lever en gages with the teeth of itsratchet, thus during the downstroke imparting motion by means of thetreadle to the main (No modelil Patented in Great Britain May 21, 1880,

l wheel and to the vehicle itself. As the treadles are operatedalternately the power is applied continuously,ornearlyso,oratpleasure.Both feet and both trcadle-levers may be kept fora timent rest,allowingthevehicle to run forward by the mometum it has alreadyacquired;

By suitably adjusiing the axis carrying the treadle-levers upon thesegmental arms, the treadles may be brought to that position which isnost con venient to the rider, so that the vehicle can with greatfacility be adjusted for different riders of different statures.

The pawls may also, if desired, be so arranged as to be drawn back outof gear by a simple forward movement of the foot without lifting it fromthe treadle-lever. V

Another advantage of my improved driving mechanism in its application tobicycles is that it obviates all risk of the rider being pitched forwardin the event of the wleel coming in contact with a stone or otherobstruction, as owing to the treadle-motion being workedfroin the backinstead of from the front, as in the ordinary arrangement, the shockexperienced on any such collision serves to jerk the rider backwardinst-ead of forward at the same time that his gripe on the handlesenables him to readily and securely maintain his balance.

In order that my said invention maybe more fully understood and readilycarried into efi'ect, I will now proceed to describe the accompanyingdrawings.

Figure l is a partial view in side elevation of the front wheel of abicycle fitted with my improved driving meohanism.

co is the toothed wheel or pinion upon the axis of the main wheel, and bis a spur-wheel in gear with the wheel a.

c is an arm carrying the axis b' of the wheel b. It is clipped onto theforked frame of the bicycle. The arm c is an arc of acircle, and isconcentric with the pinion a. The axis b' can be set in any positionupon the arm `c, which may be most convenient to the rider, and in anyposition the wheels a and b will gear truly together. I

d is a ratchet-wheel fast with the wheel b,

and e is a lever mounted upon the same axis extending to the rear of thestud. An indiarubber or other spring connects thetailf' with the levere, and causes the pawl to engage with the ratclet-teeth. The rear end ofthe lever c carries a treadle at c'. The driving-gear upon the two sidesof the main Wheel is similar, and the lever on the one side is eonneetedwith the corresponding lever on the other side by a cord, g, which isled over the pulleys g'g' carried upon the main frame. The rider can atpleasure lift the pawls font of gear with the ratehets d. To admit ofthis, a little movable arm, h, is eonnected by a stud or pivot with thelever a, and the rider, when he desires to put the pawl out of gear,moves his foot for- Ward and presses Withthe toe upon the linder end ofthe arn h. The arm then acts against the pawl and reoves it from contactwith the teeth. A plan of my improved driving mechanism is shown at Fig.2.

Sueh inproved driving meohanisn nayalso be adapted to Sewing and othermaehines which have hitherto been actuated by a crankmotion.

Having thus deseribed the nature of my said invention and the manner ofperforniug the same, I claim- 1. The treadle-lever e, pawlf,ratchet-wheel d, and gear-wheels a b, in combination with slotted arm c,which allows the adjustneut of the pivot of said lever, for the purposeset forth.

2. In combination with treadle-lever e,paw1 f, ratchet-Wheel cl, andgear-wheels a b, the arm h, engaging with the said pawl to lift it outof engagement, suhstantially as set forth.

3. The strap g, passiug from lever to lever over the Wheel, incombination with the treadle'- levers c, pawls f, ratohet-wheels d,gear-wheels a and b, and arm h, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH DUTTON.

Wi tnesses z SHIRLEY BoWDEN,

Patent Solic'tor, London. W. R. LOWMAN.

